Lift plug valve



W. EBERT LIFT PLUG VALVE Nov. 14, E950 Filed March 6, 194'? IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 14, `195() LIFT PLUG VALVE Walter Ebert, Kenosha, Wis.,assignor to Tri- Clover Machine Co., Kenosha, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,706

9 Claims.

the plug and lift it from its seat, and such pounding is sometimes doneso carelessly that parts are broken. Heretofore, various devices havebeen proposed for dislodging the plug to permit rotation thereof, butthese devices have either embodied too many parts to be practical orhave embodied interior threading, shoulders or recesses located inobjectionable places whereby cleaning of the parts is rendered diicultor impossible. When plug valves are employed in pasteurizing equipmentor in other apparatus where `a high degree of sanitation is required andwhere the valves must be taken apart daily for cleaning, yquick;assembly and disassembly is essential and vit is also essential that allof the valve parts be so constructed that every portion thereof iseasily accessible for scrubbing. Furthermore, the fewer the number ofparts the less the time that is required for taking down, cleaning, andreassembling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liftplug valve having a minimum number of parts which are so arranged andconstructed that the valve may be quickly assembled and disassembled,each part being so formed that thorough cleaning is a simple matter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve as abovedescribed including novel means for forcibly moving the plug a shortdistance in an axial direction so as to force it out of seated conditionwhen it becomes stuck.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lift plug Valveas above described wherein there is a single operating handle which,when moved, rst serves to forcibly unseat the plug, and then serves torotate the plug to a selected open or closed position.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a lift plug valve asabove described wherein the lower end of the plug has a projecting stemwith a threaded outer end portion for receiving a nut, there beingyielding means inwardly of the nut and surrounding said stem for urging.the plug into seated condition.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction asabove described, where;- in in one form of the invention said yieldingmeans may take a form of a yielding disc.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of theimproved lift plug valve, and all its parts and combinations, as setforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same partsin all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the valve with the plugmember shown in full;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the lift camarrangement;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the lowerportion of the valve structure illustrating a modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 6 designates avalve body having a longitudinal bore 1 and having a transverse taperedbore 8 intersecting the longitudinal bore 1. A valve member or plug 9 isseated in the tapered bore S and provided with the usual port I0 whichis adapted to be brought into or out of alignment with the bore 'I ofthe body when the plug is rotated.

The upper end of the plug has a stem II pro'- `jecting upwardly from thecenter thereof. The bottommost portion of the stem is enlargedtovprovide an annular shoulder I2 and above this is a squared stem portionI3 which is of less size than the portion therebelow. The stem properwhich projects above the squared portion I3 is of round stock and isthreaded on its upper end as at I4.

The main stem portion extends loosely and rotatably through an openingI5 in the inner end of a handle I6. A nut I1, which is threaded onto theupper end portion I4 of the stem, serves to restrict upward movement ofthe handle.

The inner end I8 of the handle is circular in shape and formed with acam projection I9 which is substantially semi-circular in,cross-section. The ends of the cam projection` I9 register withoppositely disposed cam recesses 20 in a circular rim 2l projectingupwardly from a cover plate 22. The latter has a downwardly extendingcircular flange 23 which seats on the annular upper edge 24 of the valvebody. When the plug 9 is in seated condition as in Fig. 1, the shoulderI2 below the squared portion I3V of the stem is somewhat below the lowersurface of the cover 22.

Projecting concentrically from the lower end of the plug 9 is a squaredstem 25 having its lowermost end portion round and threaded as at 26 forreceiving an adjustment nut 21.

In order to constantly urge the plug to seated position, yielding meansis employed around the stem portion 25. This yielding means is soarranged as to act to constantly urge the plug into seated condition. Inthe preferred form of the invention this yielding means takes the formof a yielding concavo-convex disc 28 having a central squared opening 29through which the squared stem portion 25 projects. The periphery 30 ofthe disc 28 seats against the annular end 30 at the bottom of the valvebody and is preferably rounded to minimize friction. When the nut 21 issuitably adjusted to compress the disc 28 somewhat, the disc will tendto return to its normal concavo-convex form and will thus act againstthe inner'face of the nut 21 to constantly urge the plug 9 into seatedcondition. In this form of the invention, the disc also provides abottom closure for the valve body.

This same function may be performed by the arrangement illustrated inFig. 4. In this form of the invention, however, there is a fiat closuredisc 3l having a squared central opening 32 through which the squaredstem portion 25 extends. A coil spring 33, surrounding the stem andpositioned between the disc 3| and the nut 21 acts to constantly urgethe plug 9 into seated condition. This form of the invention has moreparts than the form of Fig. 1 and the parts of Fig. l are easier toclean.

In use of the improved valve, assuming that the valve is in the openpositionof Fig. 1 and it is desired to close it, it is merely necessaryto move the handle I6. During the first part of this movement, thehandle rotates a very small distance around the stern I I until the camstarts to ride up the inclined sides of the cam recesses 2U. This willcause an upward lift on the plug 9 to move the latter just enough tobreak the seal between the tapered plug and the tapered bore 8 of thebody. The amount of lift may be controlled by the amount of clearancebetween the shoulder I2Y and the lower face of the cover 22. By limitingthis clearance to an amount just suicient for seal-breaking purposes,any leakage while the valve is unseated can be held to a minimum. Assoon as this seal is broken, further rotation of the plug becomes asimple matter. This rotation is performed by further movement of thehandle I8. During such further movement, the handle will act to rotatethe cover 22, and the latter. through the engagement of its square hole34, with the squared stem portion I3, produces rotation of the stem andplug 9 so that the plug may be easily rotated to closed position. Duringsuch rotation the t of the squared lower stem portion 25 in the squarehole 29 of the disc 28 will cause rotation of the disc 28. The roundededge 30 will minimize friction during such rotation. The arrangement issuch that there will be no tendency to loosen the nut 21. As soon as thehandle is released the yielding disc 28 or spring 33 will pull the plug9 back to seated condition and the handle cam I9 will automaticallyreturn to the position of Fig. l, wherein the cam I9 is located in thelowermost portions of the cam recesses 20.

v With the form of the invention of Fig. 4, when the plug is beingrotated, the t of the squared stem portion 25 in the squared opening 32of the .4 bottom disc 3l will cause rotation of the disc with the plug.Thus, the spring 33 and nut 21 will rotate as a unit with the plug anddisc 3l and there will be no tendency to loosen the nut 21 and norelative rotation between the upper end of the spring 33 and the disc3|.

It is apparent that with the improved construction there is acombination seal breaking and plug rotating movement produced by thesame manipulation of a single handle. It is also apparent that theconstruction has been so worked out that there is a minimum number ofparts. Furthermore each part is so constructed that it can be thoroughlycleaned without diiculty. Complete disassembly of the valve can beaccomplished by merely removing the two nuts I1 and 21.

Although only two forms of the invention have been shown and described,it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes arecontemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, a stem projecting from the large end of saidtapered plug, a cover for the large end of the tapered bore of saidvalve body having an opening through which the stem of the plugnon-rotatably extends, a handle rotatable on a projecting end of saidstem, cooperating cam means on the inner portion of f said handle and onsaid cover operable to cause axial movement of the plug during initialrotating movement of the handle, said cam means having engaging portionsarranged to thereafter cause rotating movement of the cover and plugupon further rotating movement of said handle, and yielding meansnormally urging said tapered plug into seated position.

2. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, atapered plughaving a port therein,

, said plug being cooperable with said tapered bore and rotatabletherein, a stem projecting from the large end of said tapered plug, arotatable cover for the large end of the tapered bore of said valve bodyhaving an opening through which the stem of the plug non-rotatablyextends, upstanding cam surfaces on said cover surrounding said opening,a handle rotatable on a projecting end of said stem and having a Camprojection at its inner end cooperable with said cam surfaces on saidcover to cause axial movement of the plug during initial rotatingmovement of said handle and rotating movement of the cover and plugAupon further rotating movement of said handle, and yielding meansnormally urging said tapered plug into seated position.

3. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, a stem projecting from the large end of saidtapered plug, a rotatable cover for the large end of the tapered bore ofsaid valve body having an opening through which the stem of the plugnon-rotatably extends, means upstanding from said cover and havingoppositely disposed cam recesses on its upper edge, a handle rotatableon a projecting end of said stem and having at its inner end anelongated cam projection engageable with said oppositely disposed'camrecesses of the cover to cause axial movementof the plug during initialrotating movement of the handle and to cause rotating movement of thecover and plug upon further rotating movement of said handle, andyielding means normally urging said tapered plug into seated position.

4. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, a stem projecting from the large end of saidtapered plug, a rotatable cover for the large end of the tapered bore ofsaid valve body having an opening through which the stem of the plugnon-rotatably extends, means upstanding from said cover and havingoppositely disposed cam recesses on its upper edge, a handle rotatableon a projecting end `of said stem and having at its inner end anelongated cam projection which is rounded in crosssection engageablewith said oppositely disposed cam recesses of the cover to cause axialmovement of the plug during intial rotating movement of the handle andto cause rotating movement of the cover and plug upon further rotatingmovement of said handle, and yielding means normally urging said taperedplug into seated position.

5. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, a stem projecting from the large end of saidtapered plug, a cover for the large end of the tapered bore of saidvalve body having an opening through which the stem of the plugnon-rotatably extends, a handle rotatable on a projecting end of saidstem, cooperating cam means on the inner portion of said handle and onsaid cover operable to cause axial movement of the plug during initialrotating movement of the handle, said cam means having engaging portionsarranged to thereafter cause rotating movement of the cover and plugupon further rotating movement of said handle, and adjustable yieldingmeans at the opposite end of the tapered plug for normally urging saidplug into seated position.

6. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, stems projecting from both ends of said taperedplug, a cover for the large end of the tapered bore of said valve bodyhaving an opening through which one of said stems of the plugnon-rotatably extends, a handle rotatable on a projecting end of saidlast mentioned stem, cooperating cam means on the inner portions of saidhandle and cover positioned to cause axial movement of the plug duringinitial rotating movement of the handle and rotating movement of thecover and plug upon further rotating movement of the handle, yieldingmeans on the stem at the opposite end of the tapered plug normallyurging said plug into seated condition, and means on said stem foradjustably maintaining said yielding means in position.

'7. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a taperedplug having a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said taperedbore and rotatable therein, stems projecting from both ends of saidtapered plug, a cover for the large end of the tapered bore of saidvalve body having an opening through which one of said stems of the plugnon-rotatably extends, a handle rotatable on a projecting end of saidlast mentioned stem, cooperating cam means on the inner portion of saidhandle and cover positioned to cause axial movement of the plug duringinitial rotating movement of the handle and rotating movement of thecover and plug upon further rotating movement of the handle, a yieldingconcavo-convex disc axially movably positioned on the stem at theopposite end of the plug and positioned to normally urge said plug intoseated condition, and an adjustable retaining means on said stemoutwardly of said disc and coacting with the latter.

8. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, stems projecting from both ends of said taperedplug, a cover for the large end of the tapered bore of said valve bodyhaving an opening through which one of said stems of the plugnonrotatably extends, a handle rotatable on a projecting end of saidlast mentioned stem, cooperating cam means on the inner portion of saidhandle and cover positioned to cause axial movement of the plug duringinitial rotating movement of the handle and rotating movement of thecover and plug upon further rotating movement of the handle, a yieldingconcavo-convex disc non-rotatably and axially movably positioned on thestem at the opposite end of the plug and positioned to normally urgesaid plug into seated condition, and a nut threaded on said stemoutwardly of said disc and coacting with the latter.

9. A valve comprising a valve body having a tapered bore, a tapered plughaving a port therein, said plug being cooperable with said tapered boreand rotatable therein, a stem of relatively small diameter projectingfrom the large end of said tapered plug, said stem having a squaredportion and having a portion which is circular in cross-section, arotatable cover for the large end of the tapered bore of the valve bodyhaving a squared opening through which the squared portion of the stemof the plug non-rotatably extends, means upstanding from said cover andhaving cam recesses on its upper edge, a handle rotatable on the portionof the stem which is circular in cross-section and having at its innerend a cam projection which is rounded in crosssection and positioned forengagement with said cam recesses or" the cover to cause axial movementof the plug during initial rotating movement of the handle and to causerotating movement of the cover and plug upon further rotating movementof the handle, and yielding means normally urging said tapered plug intoseated position.

WALTER EBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,153,707 Russell Sept. 14, 19151,398,329 King Nov. 29, 1921 1,794,636 Mueller Mar. 3, 1931 2,296,650Mueller Sept. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 545,739 GreatBritain June 10, 1942 670,524 France Aug. 19, 1.929

